Estes Cone sits in the shadow of Longs Peak

By Madeline Framson

Trail-Gazette

Posted:
02/13/2014 01:22:01 PM MST

The country around the Estes Cone is mantled in a snowy winter decor. (John Cordsen / Trail-Gazette)

Estes Cone, located in Longs Peak country of Rocky Mountain National Park, is not the result of some ancient volcano. It is an isolated remnant shaped by natural erosion that left a definitive cone-shaped mountain reaching 11,006 feet in altitude.

There are a number of routes trekkers can choose to reach this rocky summit. On the traditional route to the Cone that begins at the Longs Peak trailhead, hikers will discover the remnants of an old cabin near Inn Brook. At the end of a faint trail running parallel to the brook to the west, the tailings of an old mine can be seen. The Eugenia Mine was recorded at the Larimer County Courthouse in 1905. It is located on the northeast slope of Pine Ridge, which is part of Battle Mountain. The mine was purported to have been tunneled into the ridge a thousand feet. There were narrow tracks that went to the end of the tunnel, as well as ore carts to run on the tracks. It is unknown how profitable the mining venture was. Rocky Mountain National Park officials filled in the tunnel many years ago, but the tailings are still visible today.

The history of this mine and the people involved with it is somewhat interesting. The Carl P. Norwell family lived there and worked the mine. Norwell had a partner in the mining operation by the name of Edward A. Cudahy. It has been conjectured that this Cudahy might have been part of the famous Cudahy mead packing company of Chicago since both partners were from there. Cudahy never lived or worked the mine but was a partner from a distance.

The Norwells, who had two daughters, had a comfortable home on the site. It was well furnished and had the latest state-of-the-art entertainment center for the early part of the century -- a piano. This piano had been hauled in by Arthur Claude Matthews by freight wagon and a four-horse team over the difficult rough dirt roads to the Norwell home. History books indicate that the young guides of the early Longs Peak Inn and Hewes-Kirkwood Lodge had three reasons to frequently visit the Norwell home -- two daughters and one piano.

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Participants who hike to the Estes Cone will have the opportunity to look back into history as they pass the Eugenia Mine. The trek begins at the Longs Peak trailhead, winds past the mine, through Moore Park and Storm Pass. From there trekkers scramble to the top of the Cone where they will be treated to panoramic views of Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker.

Sign up information for this and other hikes is posted at the Estes Valley Library, Komito Boots and online at cmc.org. For more information, contact Madeline Framson at 586-6623